SharePoint Autosave Not Working? Fix Sync & Saving Issues (2026 Guide)

If SharePoint AutoSave is not working, documents may stop syncing, changes may not save automatically, or you may see errors when editing files in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

This issue is usually related to OneDrive sync problems, account authentication errors, or SharePoint library connection failures. In this guide, we’ll walk you through proven fixes step-by-step.

Why Is SharePoint AutoSave Not Working?

AutoSave depends on:

• Active OneDrive sync connection
• Stable internet connection
• Correct Microsoft 365 login session
• File being stored inside a synced SharePoint library

If any of these fail, AutoSave may stop working.

Fix 1: Check OneDrive Sync Status

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray.

• If it shows “Paused”, resume syncing.
• If it shows “Sign in required”, re-authenticate your account.
• If syncing errors appear, resolve them first.

Related: Office 365 Not Syncing Across Devices

Fix 2: Reconnect SharePoint Library

1. Go to SharePoint in browser
2. Open the document library
3. Click Sync
4. Allow it to reconnect to OneDrive

This refreshes the local sync relationship.

Fix 3: Turn AutoSave Off and On

Inside Word/Excel:

1. Toggle AutoSave off
2. Wait 10 seconds
3. Turn AutoSave back on

If it remains greyed out, the file may not be stored in SharePoint correctly.

Fix 4: Check If File Is in Read-Only Mode

If the file is opened as:

• Read-only
• Checked out by another user
• Downloaded copy instead of cloud version

AutoSave will not work.

Fix 5: Update Microsoft 365

Outdated Office versions can cause AutoSave failures.

1. Open any Office app
2. Go to File → Account → Update Options
3. Click Update Now

Related: Microsoft 365 Apps Crashing After Update

Fix 6: Clear Office Cache

Sometimes Office Document Cache causes sync issues.

1. Close all Office apps
2. Press Win + R
3. Type: %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\OfficeFileCache
4. Delete contents inside folder

Fix 7: Sign Out and Sign Back In

Authentication problems often disable AutoSave.

1. Open Word or Excel
2. Go to File → Account
3. Sign out
4. Restart computer
5. Sign back in

When to Contact IT Support

If AutoSave still doesn’t work after trying these steps, the issue may involve:

• Tenant-level SharePoint configuration
• Permission restrictions
• Conditional access policies
• Corrupted user profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is AutoSave greyed out in SharePoint?

This usually means the file is not stored in a synced SharePoint library or you are not signed into Microsoft 365 properly.

Does AutoSave require internet?

Yes. SharePoint AutoSave requires an active internet connection for cloud syncing.

Can OneDrive issues affect SharePoint AutoSave?

Yes. Since SharePoint libraries sync through OneDrive, any OneDrive error can disable AutoSave.

Final Tip: Always ensure your files are opened directly from the SharePoint synced folder and not from a downloaded copy.